League Rules

Rohnert Park Junior Giants League Rules

GENERAL RULES (all divisions)

  1. This league is an instructional league and no score will be kept. This league is designed to be a non-competitive environment for the kids to play the game of baseball.
  2. It is the intent of these rules to be a guideline for play. They are not intended to be “lawyered” and should all be taken for their intent in that we want all kids to have the best experience possible on the field appropriate to skill level of everyone.
  3. The league will review any requests to play up/down a division. Requests must be made to the league commissioner prior to the first First Pitch meeting to be considered. Player safety and availability of space in the new division will be the determining factors for any such requests.
  4. Coaches and team parents from both teams are encouraged to help both teams while batting and fielding. We may volunteer for different teams but we are all part of the Junior Giants team. Coaches may be in the field during play to help their kids with positioning at all levels.
  5. After every game, teams will line up and shake hands.
  6. Any fighting or unruly conduct will result in either the player’s ejection or, if necessary, a team’s disqualification.
  7. All players will bat in one continuous batting order; this includes those not playing in the field. Coaches are responsible for making sure that everyone hits in order.
  8. Teams will not be allowed to bat through the batting order more than once in any given inning.
  9. Substitutions can only be made in between innings, unless a player has been injured.
  10. All batters and runners will wear a batting helmet at all times. If a batter is caught without a helmet, a team warning will be given. Any infraction after that, the runner or batter will be out. The on-deck batter must also wear a helmet.
  11. Because Junior Giants is noncompetitive, official umpires are not necessary for games and we encourage coaches to serve in that role. Any call made by a coach is final, and no re-do or replays will be allowed. Base coaches will be responsible for making out/safe calls at the bases. Remember while we wear different colors we are all Junior Giants!

 

RULES FOR T-BALL (5-6 YEARS OLD):

  1. Bases will be about 50 feet apart.
  2. All games are five innings or 60 minutes, whichever comes first. The team at bat may conclude their at bat if agreed by the coaches once time expires.
  3. This division uses the provided batting tee for all at bats.
  4. Batters must hit the ball fair. There will be no balls, strikes, or bunting.
  5. The T-ball division will field about 12 players at a time. Four outfielders and extra infielders are to be stationed between first and second base position, and between shortstop and second base. Extra players may be placed in the outfield to get everyone on the field each inning.
  6. All players must participate in the field each game. It is mandatory that coaches rotate players to different positions. Players may not sit on the bench in consecutive innings and may not return to the bench before all other players have also sat on the bench for an equal number of innings. Players must also play at least 2 innings in the infield (1 if game is less than 5 innings long).
  7. The fielding pitcher must wear a batting helmet and be within 3 feet of the pitching mound.
  8. Once the fielding pitcher receives the ball from his/her teammates, near the pitching mound, the ball is dead and play will stop. Please encourage your teams to play “station to station” and not take extra bases on throwing errors. Runners should only take extra bases on balls hit beyond outfielders.
  9. Outs shall not be called on runners. Defensive players should be congratulated on getting outs but all runners shall remain on bases.
  10. Each inning will conclude with the last batter in the batting order running all 4 bases after completing their turn at bat.

RULES FOR MINORS (7-9 YEARS OLD):

  1. This age group will field 10 players, with the extra player to play in the outfield.
  2. Bases will be 60 feet apart.
  3. All games are six innings or 90 minutes, whichever comes first. An inning in progress when the time limit expires will be completed light permitting. Each inning will conclude with 3 outs or when the entire batting order has hit in the inning.
  4. All players must participate in the field each game. It is mandatory that coaches rotate players to different positions. Players may not sit on the bench in consecutive innings or for more than two innings per game. Players must also play at least 2 innings in the infield (1 if game is less than 5 innings long).
  5. This division will be coach pitched for both baseball and softball.
  6. There are only five pitches per batter. Note: A pitch is defined as a ball that a child has a legitimate chance of hitting. It is encouraged that coaches pitch to the batter appropriate to the skill level of the player. Coaches may pitch overhand or underhand for baseball and underhand for softball.
  7. After the 5th pitch, if the batter has not put the ball in play, the batter is out. A foul ball on the 5th pitch will be pitched again.
  8. Any bad pitch made by the coach may be disallowed.
  9. Any batted ball that hits the coach will be ruled a single.
  10. Returning the ball to the fielding pitcher will end the play. Balls kept on the infield should be limited to a single unless there is an overthrow. Teams are encouraged to take only a single base on overthrows. Please do not keep running on multiple overthrows in the same play.
  11. A foul tip that goes 6 feet over the catcher’s head and is caught by the catcher is to be called an out, unless it is the last pitch, where no height limit is needed.
  12. Infield fly rule is to be enforced at all times.
    1. The infield fly rule is that whenever there is a runner on first and second, or bases loaded and a fly ball is hit to an infielder who can reasonably expect to catch it the batter shall be called out and runners and not forced to advance but advance at their own risk. These are the only cases where an infield fly should be called, just because a fly ball is hit in the infield does not make it an "infield fly"
  13. There is no stealing allowed and runners must wait until the ball is struck before advancing. If a runner leaves too early, a team warning will be issued and the runner will be sent back. Base coaches are responsible for making sure this is the case.
  14. If a runner leaves early and the batter gets a hit, the runner is out. The next time any runner who was previously warned leaves early, he/she will be automatically out.
  15. Sliding is allowed. Any slides performed in an effort to take out the fielder or any attempt to interfere with the fielder (putting hands up or running into the fielder) will result in an out.
  16. Runners must attempt to avoid contact and it is highly recommended but not required that they slide on any close play.
  17. Teams may choose not to have a child play the traditional catcher position if it takes too long or they do not have a player willing to suit up in the catchers gear (it should take no more than a minute to get the catcher ready after the last inning is over). If no catcher is suited up teams may choose to either have a coach play catcher or a player with a normal glove, and batting helmet stand with a coach at least 20 feet behind the batter's back (not behind the plate) and they can gather the balls after an at bat or once a ball is put in play, either make plays in the field or cover home plate. 

 

RULES FOR MAJORS (10-13 YEARS OLD):

  1. This age group will field 9 players.
  2. Bases will be 60 feet apart.
  3. All games are six innings or 90 minutes, whichever comes first. An inning in progress when the time limit expires will be completed light permitting. Each inning will conclude with 3 outs or when the entire batting order has hit in the inning.
  4. All players must participate in the field each game. It is mandatory that coaches rotate players to different positions. Players may not sit on the bench in consecutive innings or for more than two innings per game. Players must also play at least 1 inning in the infield.
  5. This division will use a pitching machine set to about 40 mph. – SETTING NUMBER 9 ON THE PITCHING MACHINE POWER PEDAL
  6. There are only five pitches per batter. Note: A pitch is defined as a ball that a child has a legitimate chance of hitting. If a child has a particularly hard time hitting the pitches provided the coach may substitute the final two pitches with a coach pitch.
  7. After the 5th pitch, if the batter has not put the ball in play, the batter is out. A foul ball on the 5th pitch will be pitched again.
  8. Any bad pitch made by the pitching machine may be disallowed.
  9. Any batted ball that hits the pitching machine or coach will be ruled a single.
  10. Returning the ball to the fielding pitcher will end the play.
  11. A foul tip that goes 6 feet over the catcher’s head and is caught by the catcher is to be called an out, unless it is the last pitch, where no height limit is needed.
  12. Infield fly rule is to be enforced at all times.
    1. The infield fly rule is that whenever there is a runner on first and second, or bases loaded and a fly ball is hit to an infielder who can reasonably expect to catch it the batter shall be called out and runners and not forced to advance but advance at their own risk. These are the only cases where an infield fly should be called, just because a fly ball is hit in the infield does not make it an "infield fly"
  13. There is no stealing allowed and runners must wait until the ball is struck before advancing. If a runner leaves too early, a team warning will be issued and the runner will be sent back. Base coaches are responsible for making sure this is the case.
  14. If a runner leaves early and the batter gets a hit, the runner is out. The next time any runner who was previously warned leaves early, he/she will be automatically out.
  15. Any slides performed in an effort to take out the fielder or any attempt to interfere with the fielder (putting hands up or running into the fielder) will result in an out.
  16. Runners must attempt to avoid contact and it is highly recommended but not required that they slide on any close play.